Hair device



Nov. 19, 1929. R. a. OPPENHEIMER I 1,736,215

HAIR DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1929 INVEN"OR Patented Nov. 19, 1929 A UNITE ..--;-t:

- RUTH B. OIPPENHEIMER, or cnnsrwoon, NEW YORK HAIR DEVICE Applicationfiled February 14, 1929. Serial No. 339,795.

My present invention relates generally to hair devices, and has particular reference to barrettes. 7

'One of the objects is to provide a device I which will facilitate the support of the bun '5 or knot of hair which is frequently worn by women at the back of the head, particularly of late; It is customary, as it has been for generations, to support such bun by means of hairpins. Where the hair is'of limited lengthforwhere itisrrelatively heavy, regardless of length, a source of great annoyance lies in the failure of the hairpins to remainin place. As a matter of fact, the like- 'lihood of hairpins coming loose or falling out by accident is always an incident to their use, and is'particularly prevalent where the bun to be supported thereby is positioned at the base of the skull in accordance with the 1. present custom.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide means for minimizing, if not entirely preventing, the accidental displacement, loosening, or loss of hairpins, when I 2 used for this'purpose, and thereby preventing the construction which renders the manu facture ofmy device extremely simple and inexpensive, which enables the magnetic qualities to remain operative for a maximum period of time,'andwhich renders the day- ,by day employnientjof the device a simple and unobjectionable matter.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other. objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have coni stru'ctedfa device embodying the features of Other featuresof' my'invention reside in myinvention and illustratedin'the accom- V panying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrette of thepresent character; 7

Figure 2 is a side view of the rear of a womans head, showing the manner in which the barrette is applied;

, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the ultimate disposition of barrette, bun, and hairpins; and x Figure 4 is a front elevational viewfof the barrette'in' closed condition, showing a preferred form of construction.

A piece of magnetically permeable metal, such assteel, is bent into ar'cuate shape, preferably in'conformity' with an ellipse. In Figure 1 I have shown a C-shaped body constructed in this manner. This body is preferably of relatively small cross-section,

is approximately one to two'inches in horizontal length,.and about'three-fourths to oneand one-half inches in height. This body '11 and 12downwardly for a purpose pres ently to be described.

Associated with this body and extending between the opposite sides 13 and 14 thereof is adapted to be employed with its free ends is a suitable fastening'meansor clasp ar- 'rangement whereby the barrette may be removably associated with a bundle of hair.

In accordance withmy invention, the body 1O is suitably magnetized, as by. subjecting the same to a strong magnetic field, whereby metallic objects, such as hairpins, will adhere to a certain extent to the body 10; and the :clasp arrangement is of a magnetically reluctlve material, such as brass, bone, rubber,

or the like;

reduction of manufacturing cost, I'prefer to provide a clasping devlce as shown most For the sake of simplicity of structure and clearly in Figure 4. A pair of openings 15 are bored through the body at its side 14, and a set of similarly arranged openings 16 are bored through the opposite side 13. A resilient wire of magnetically impermeable material is doubled upon itself to provide the two substantially parallel portions 17, the bent midportion 18, and the free ends 19. mid- 'portionlS extends through the openings 16 jacence with respect to the normal spacing of the portions 17 that the free ends 19 may not be threaded forwardly through the openings unless the portions 17 are pinched to gether by a slight amount. In this way, the ends 19 will press outwardly away fronieach other after they have been threaded through the openings 15, and the engagement thus afforded will be suflicient to secure the portions 17 in the position of Figure 4: and thereby clasp a mass or bundle of hair between the portions 17 and the rear surface of the body 10. This will serve'to keepthebarrettein position; 7 v p d When thebarrette is employed, a relatively small bundle of hair lying close to the neck .of-theuser is engaged by'the barrette as shown in Figure 2 and as described in the preceding paragraph. Itwill be understood that theopen ends 11 and 12 are directed downwardly and that the body 10 lies outwardly with respectitoathe head of the user. The .barrette is thus applied; at'a place which will ultimately be Within the'interior of the bun to be formed. This bun isthereupon'formed in the usual manner, the barrette being completely enclosed and concealed thereby, and hairpins are freely used in-the usual way to hold the bun together and in place.

The greatest magnetic attraction will obviously exist adj aeent to the free ends 11 and "12, and vthis is as it should be, for the reason that the hairpins which will contact withthe barrette body at these points will be extending with their points upwardly and'will thus barrette body 10, a certain adhesion will take place which I have found is just sufiicient to satisfactorily keep the hairpins from falling. At the upper pcrtionof the body 10 a Certain amount of attraction will take place, less than at the open ends 11 and 12 but still sutlicient tocontribute to the general results desired. The attraction may be less at this point for the reason. that the hairpin-s contacting with'the upper pontion of the body 1 0 will ,gn-ost likely be arranged with their points downwardly so that accidental falling out would be comparatively, unlikely.

It will thus be seen thatzthe barrette is easily applied and yet entirely unohjaect-ion a le; There-illustrated a form wherein it is I designed to be i totally concealed "and in visible, but it is obvious that-the body may desire to secure by Letters Patentis- 1. A barrette of the character described therewith. V p

' 2. A .barrette of thecharactendescribed be circular or shaped in other. ways to suit requirements. 0

Furthermore, although I have shown a preferred type of clasp, itwill be understood that any type of clasping or engagingdevice would be suitable so long asit is not composed of-magnetically permeable material which would afl ectand impair .the smooth unbroken l path otthe magnetic flux. An ordinaryielas tic might in certain cases prove toxbe satisfactory although its method of application to a bundle of hair would be somewhatzmo-re dificult than that entailed with pivoted Clasps of the character illustrate'd'and of the character heretofore in general use with respect to barrettes and the like. 1 I

' It will be obvious that changes in the idstails herein described and illustrated fort he purpose of explaining the natureof my in vention may be made by those'skilld in-the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed-in the tip-- pended claims. It is thereforexintended that these details be interpreted:asillustrative, and

not in a limiting-sense.

Having thusdescribed my inventiona'nd illustrated its use, whatrI claim as new and comprising a Crshaped body'of magnetized metal adapted magnetically to attract metallic hairpins and holdthe latter in. contact comprising a C-shaped body of magnetized steel, and means tor'applying' said body with the open ends thereof downwardly to the inposition by magnetic attraction.

3. A barrette of the chamcter described comprising a body of magnetizedmetal, and n pivoted clasp carried by said :hody tor rem'ovably associating the latter with a bundle of hair, whereby metallic hairpins ,appi'ied te said bundle and contacting with said will be held in position by magnetic attraction. 1 v V 4, A barrette of the character .descnibed material, and a clasp oat magnetically rel-fuctiv-e material. qa' ried by. said heel-y associating the latter with a knot of hair, whereby metallic hairpins applied to said knot and contacting with said body Will be held in position by magnetic attraction,

5. A barrette of the character described comprising a C-shaped body of magnetized metal, and a clasp of magnetically reluctive material extending across the body to enable the same to be removably associated with a bundle of hair, whereby metallic hairpins applied'to said bundle and contacting with said body will be held in position by magnetic atbundle of hair, said clasp comprising a wire I traction.

6. A barrette of the character described comprising a C-shaped body of magnetized metal, and a clasp of magnetically reluctive material extending across the body to enable the same to be removably associated with a doubled upon itself to provide free ends and a midportion, said midportion extending through one side of the body so as to enable saidfree ends to be brought into and out of association with the other side of said body.

7 For use with a knot or bun of human hair adapted to be retained in formation by metallic hairpins extending thereinto, a barrette of the character described comprising a C-shaped body of magnetized, metal, and hair-clasping means carried by said body to enable the removable application thereof in concealed stationary position Within said bun with the open ends, thereof downwardly.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification this 31st day of January, 1929.

RUTH B. OPPENHEIMER. 

